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Salto del Nervión, the largest waterfall in the Iberian Peninsula.
The Salto del Nervión, the source of the Nervión river, the origin of the Bilbao estuary, invites us to spend a pleasant day in the company of friends or family in an environment of great natural value. It is in this magical and paradisiacal space located in the province of Araba, where we find the highest waterfall or waterfall in the entire peninsula. More than 270 meters of free fall in which the water blurs until it hits the rock of the mountain. A natural phenomenon that attracts thousands of curious and mountaineers throughout the year. A number of visitors that is increased in the rainy season and thaw.
The beech forests and the panoramic views that are obtained from the different routes of the Salto del Nervión make this corner a must-see place. The waterfall or Salto del Nervión is one of the great attractions of Araba. Although it is located next to the Monte Santiago Natural Monument (Castilla y León), it belongs to the province of Araba, Euskadi. The Monte Santiago Natural Monument offers a good number of kilometers of hiking trails. A natural monument of great natural value, from which we recommend contemplating the municipalities of Orduña (Bizkaia) and Amurrio (Araba).
Information about Salto del Nervión.
- Online reservations: Here.
- Altitude: 270 meters.
- Attractions: Panoramic views, waterfall and nature.
- Location: Salto del Nervión, Delika, Araba, Euskadi.
If you are planning to visit the Salto del Nervión we recommend that you pay attention to each and every one of the sections of this article. We are sure that it will help you to plan your getaway to this idyllic place. In case you have any questions, we recommend you to use the comments system that you will find at the end of the article to send them to us. We will try to respond as soon as possible.
Does the Salto del Nervión have water?
Does the Salto del Nervión have water? This is the million dollar question, the most repeated phrase among people who are planning to visit this enclave that concerns us today. Unfortunately, at present, there is no webcam through which we can see the amount of water that has the Salto del Nervión. Undoubtedly one of the most important factors when visiting this incredible waterfall. But in the absence of such tools, good is the information that our readers send us. We recommend exploring social networks to check the status of this emblematic corner of Euskadi. Nothing better than the photos shared by our users: information in real time and very truthful, little more we can ask for.
When to visit Salto del Nervión.
The beauty of Salto del Nervión lies in the water, without water, its beauty evaporates. That is why we recommend visiting it after a strong storm, frequent rains or during the thaw. If we do not do it under these conditions, we have the danger of finding ourselves in front of a great gorge without water, dry, even in winter. For most of the time, the water flows through the interior of this enormous rock massif, coming to the surface only when it has overflowed.
How to get to Salto del Nervión.
Like most places, the Salto del Nervión can be accessed from different areas, but undoubtedly, the road that leads from the town of Orduña to the top of the port of the same name, is one of the busiest roads. This road connects the center of the Biscayan town of Orduña with the source of the Nervión, overcoming an unevenness of 900 meters, a route with dizzying curves that delight lovers of cycling and motoring (road A-2625), a typical mountain pass. Once at the top of the pass, we must follow the road until we reach the entrance to Monte Santiago. Once at this point we must turn left. The rest of the way is easy, just follow the forest track until you find the parking lot that best suits your needs.
Guided tours in the Salto del Nervión.
If you travel to Euskadi in group and you want to know the Salto del Nervión, we encourage you to contact us. We offer tourism experiences throughout the Basque Country. We take care of transportation, tour guides and food. It is also possible to take a guided tour in Orduña or visit a livestock farm. As you can see, this is a 100% customizable experience. Are you up for it?
Where to park at Salto del Nervión.
Monte Santiago offers us 3 areas where we can park our vehicles, 3 parking lots with limited capacity that are often overwhelmed by the number of visitors.
- Parking number 1: The farthest parking from the Salto del Nervión, next to the A-2625 road, at entrance of Monte Santiago. Recommended only for those who want to increase the 9.4 km that we can cover with the longest route that we recommend (circular route PR-BU 41 + PR-BU 45 + PR-BU 42). This space has 57 places for cars and 3 places for buses.
- Parking lot number 2: Intermediate parking between the parking lot of the park house (Fuente Santiago) and the parking lot at the entrance, parking lot number 1. This space, known as the cypress parking lot, has 21 parking spaces.
- Parking number 3: Parking Fuente Santiago, next to the house of the Park of Monte Santiago, the closest parking to the Salto del Nervión, recommended for families and people who only want to know the source of the Nervión River and travel short distances. In this parking lot is where the road ends suitable for cars, you can’t get lost.
Depending on the profile of the visitor and the intention of the same, we recommend choosing between one parking or another. Although one thing is clear, the most demanded of them all is number 3, the Fuente Santiago parking lot, the parking lot that is the point of origin and destination of all the routes that we recommend in this article.
1.-Leaving the car in the first parking lot: At the moment they are NOT charging for access to the parking lots closest to the Salto del Nervión, but in the past they did, so this option was the most economical, although then we have to face a slightly longer walk. The price for parking in the parking lots closest to the Salto del Nervión was about 3€ per car (they charged only per car, regardless of the people in the car).
- Update as of 24/03/2016: We have accessed by car to the parking lot of Fuente Santiago and we have not been charged the 3€ that we were charged last time, the barrier was open.
- Confirmation of the year 2018: Admission is still free. In principle, it seems that that fee they imposed at its inception has disappeared.
2.-Leaving the car in one of the parking lots closest to the Salto del Nervión: This option is really a pleasure for people who want to visit this place with their family or simply want to enjoy the views without making great efforts.
Leave the car in the parking lot 4: As you can see in the picture below, the parking lot number 4, is quite far from the Salto del Nervión. This option is only recommended for those who want to do more than a 9.4 km walk.
Recommended routes in Salto del Nervión.
The environment, framed in the Natural Monument of Monte Santiago, allows us to make a thousand and one routes, endless opportunities for walking or cycling. However, the most famous and attractive are the following.
- Parking Fuente Santiago – Esquina de Ruben Viewpoint (PR-BU 41)
- Fuente Santiago – Salto del Nervión Viewpoint (PR-BU 42)
- Fuente Santiago parking lot – Ruben’s corner viewpoint – Salto del Nervión viewpoint – Fuente Santiago parking lot (circular route PR -BU 41 + PR- BU 45 + PR- BU 42).
Route Parking Fuente Santiago – Esquina de Ruben viewpoint
- Origin: Fuente Santiago parking lot.
- Destination: Mirador Esquina Ruben
- Route code: PR-BU 41
- Length: 1.7 km
- Difficulty: Low
- Time: 15 minutes.
- Climbing height: 98 meters.
Fuente Santiago – Salto del Nervión Viewpoint Route
- Origin: Fuente Santiago.
- Destination: Salto del Nervión viewpoint.
- Route code: PR-BU 42
- Length: 2 km
- Difficulty: Low
- Time: 21 minutes.
- Climbing height: 17 meters.
Route Parking Fuente Santiago – Viewpoint corner of Ruben – Viewpoint Salto del Nervión.
- Origin: Fuente Santiago parking lot.
- Destination: Fuente Santiago parking lot.
- Route code: PR-BU 41 + PR-BU 45 + PR-BU 42 (Circular route)
- Length: 6.4 km
- Difficulty: Low
- Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Climbing height: 122 meters.
This last route is undoubtedly the most complete of them all. A simple route with great attractions that leaves no one indifferent. It is important to know that the routes PR-BU 41 and PR-BU 42 have wide tracks that can be accessed with child seats or mountain bikes. While the route PR-BU 45, is a path on the edge of the cliff where we find fallen trees, stones and some other unevenness that makes access for children’s chairs is impossible and difficult for mountain bikes.
Where to sleep near Salto del Nervión.
The Salto del Nervión is one of the most visited sites in the Basque Country. It is not surprising. In addition to the impressive waterfall that we present today, the environment in which the Salto del Nervión is located gives us more than a dozen attractions to visit and enjoy. This is the reason why we recommend you to spend several days in this area of the Basque Country. In this aspect, our recommendation is simple. After evaluating the different accommodations offered in the area, after analyzing their prices and quality, we believe that the solid wood houses of Satia Berri are the best option. High quality lodgings, located in the middle of nature, offer peace and tranquility at a very competitive price. In addition, you can make your reservation directly here, on our website, without commissions, safe and intuitive. It couldn’t be easier. We hope you enjoy it.
Juan Mari, Garbiñe and their daughters are luxury hosts. Close and attentive people who make sure that everything is perfect for our arrival. As if this were not enough, the txoko that has this resort allows us to gather around a good table to enjoy a nice dining experience. What more could you ask for? You can check prices and availability here.
Where to eat near Salto del Nervión.
The restaurants that we recommend this time are located less than 30 minutes from the Salto del Nervión, in the towns of Amurrio and Escota, respectively. Two restaurants of great culinary level that we fell in love with thanks to their elaborate dishes and competitive prices, two true gastronomic temples. Do you want to know which restaurants we are talking about? The restaurants in question are called Abiaga and La Era. For more information you can read our articles about them.
Delika Canyon.
The Senda Verde de Delika, the latest route that has enabled the Provincial Council of Araba in Amurrio, invites us to enjoy the Salto del Nervión from below. This route goes into the first section of the Delika canyon to show us some of its most striking spaces. A beautiful and simple route that we encourage you to walk with your family. In case you want more information, we recommend you to read our article about the Senda Verde de Delika.
Route to Salto del Nervión from Untza.
In addition to the aforementioned routes from Monte Santiago, there are other routes that take us to know the Salto del Nervión. An example of this is the route that starts from the town of Untza. A route of 12 kilometers long, which encourages us to skirt the cliffs that surround this striking Basque waterfall. In case you want more information about this route we encourage you to read our article about the route to Salto del Nervión from Untza.
Attractions of the Salto del Nervión.
- Views of the Salto del Nervión: The views that we can enjoy are really incredible, as we are in one of the highest points in the area. A nice opportunity to contemplate Bizkaia and Araba from a bird’s eye view while walking on the edge of the cliff.
- Ease of accessEl Salto del Nervión has very high quality accesses, we can access walking, by bike or even with child seats, all of this, by wide tracks or roads. Of course, do not think that they are asphalted, they are a mixture of earth and stone properly mixed and with some holes.
- Suitable for all audiencesThe routes mentioned above have been classified as low difficulty routes or trails, routes suitable for all audiences.
- Places equipped to eatIf the restaurants we have mentioned above do not convince you or you simply prefer to eat outdoors, remember that next to the parking lots there are areas equipped with tables and stone chairs where you can eat after any of the routes we mentioned.
- Follow the Nervión riverbed: If you feel like following the Nervión riverbed, you can do so by following the Greenway of the Nervión Linear Park. A pleasant and enjoyable walk around the river bank that concerns us in this article.
Monte Santiago’ Park House.
Next to the Fuente Santiago, we find the house of the natural monument of Monte Santiago, a small interpretation center, from which we try to explain the importance of this environment through various panels. This is the closest information point to the Salto del Nervión, we recommend asking any questions you may have before starting the route. The fauna and vegetation of the area is another of the great attractions of the place.
Contact Monte Santiago (Salto del Nervión).
- Phone: 666 189 079
- Email: cp.montesantiago@patrimonionatural.org
- Fauna Salto del Nervión: Among the fauna we can find eagles, hawks, Egyptian vultures, wolves, roe deer, wild boars, squirrels, otters or wild cats, although the one that is always present is the griffon vulture, attentive in the section of the PR-BU 45.
- Vegetation Salto del Nervión: Although the variety is very wide, the protagonism is taken by the numerous beech forests that we find around us.
Video of the Nervión waterfall.
From now on, the Salto del Nervión is part of the collection of spaces of our YouTube channel. A tool through which we try to give you a more accurate idea of what you will find in your destination. By the way, if you want to follow our adventures throughout Euskadi, we recommend you to subscribe to our channel, we are sure you will find many surprises.
What to see near Salto del Nervión.
If you are looking for places to complement your getaway to Salto del Nervión, we recommend you to consider the possibility of visiting some of these places. We are sure you will like them.
As you can see, the Salto del Nervión, the largest waterfall in the peninsula, is a must visit place. A perfect plan to enjoy nature with the family. An easy and beautiful route that we recommend to all the people who visit us. If you have any questions about the Salto del Nervión, do not hesitate to leave us a comment in this article, we will try to answer as soon as possible.
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